Master in Materials Engineering at University of Trento
Two-year English-taught LM-53 master's at the University of Trento in Povo on the processes, properties and applications of materials, with curricula in manufacturing and product development or energy, environment and sustainable development. Entry needs an industrial engineering degree and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Trento
English
University of Trento
Materials Engineering is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-53) taught in English at the University of Trento in Povo. Entry needs a bachelor's in industrial engineering or a related field with a weighted average of at least 23/30, plus English at B2 in all four skills. Non-EU fees follow your admission score, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
UniTrento's Materials Engineering master asks for a bachelor's in industrial engineering or a related field with a weighted average of at least 23/30 or equivalent, English at B2 in all four skills, and a merit score of at least 50 out of 100 from a review of your file. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and grade rule
You need a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering (Italian class L-9) or in another field accepted under the course regulations, or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent. The selection committee decides whether a foreign degree is eligible from your full academic record. For 2026/27, the degree had to be completed by 30 June 2026. [1]
The programme's admission page describes the fit as a bachelor's of at least three years in an industrial engineering discipline, such as mechanical, mechatronics, chemical or materials engineering, or a degree in a related field whose study plan shows basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and industrial engineering. [2]
The weighted average of your passed exams, excluding the final project, must be at least 23/30. For degrees awarded abroad, the committee reads your GPA on your own country's grading scale, so the full scale must be documented. [1][2]
What this means for your transcript
The committee looks at the subjects you studied, not only the title of your degree. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Tech or B.E. in Mechanical, Chemical, Materials, Metallurgical or Production Engineering, or in Mechatronics, with courses in maths, physics and chemistry.
- Check carefully: a B.Tech or B.E. in Aerospace, Electrical, Civil or Biomedical Engineering, or a B.Sc. in Chemistry or Physics. These often cover maths and physics, but the committee checks for chemistry and industrial engineering content.
- Often short: a BCA, B.Sc. IT, B.Com or BBA, or a computer science degree with little chemistry or industrial engineering.
Your grades matter too: your average must reach the equivalent of 23/30, and your academic record carries up to 60 of the 100 selection points. [1]
English
English at CEFR level B2 or higher in all four skills, held by the application deadline and shown by one of: [1]
- an international certificate;
- a B2 or higher English exam passed at another university, with the four skills and the level tested and certified;
- a bachelor's degree taught entirely in English, certified by your university;
- citizenship of a country whose official language is English.
The call does not list specific test scores. English above B2, or knowledge of other languages, can earn up to 10 extra selection points. [1]
Selection and ranking
There is no entrance test. A selection committee of at least three teaching staff checks the curricular requirements and scores your file out of 100: [1]
- Up to 30 points: how well your previous studies match the aims of the master.
- Up to 60 points: your academic record, including grades, any postgraduate courses and extra-academic activities.
- Up to 10 points: language skills beyond B2 English, or other languages.
The committee may meet online, and it invites you to an interview only if your documents are not enough to assess you. A score of 50 or more makes you eligible, ties go to the younger candidate, and each master has its own merit ranking. [1]
2026/27 places and deadlines
For 2026/27, 25 Materials Engineering places were reserved for non-EU applicants living abroad, including 5 for candidates selected under the EIT RawMaterials programme. Applications closed on 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET. You could apply to more than one master with a separate application for each. [1]
Rankings were published by 20 May 2026. Admitted candidates then confirmed their place by the date given with the ranking. Students delayed by the visa were admitted only if they obtained it by 31 October 2026. These are the 2026/27 dates, and the 2027/28 call will set the new ones. [1][2]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs: [1]
- your passport (personal data pages);
- your bachelor's certificate, if already awarded, with an official English translation if it is not in Italian or English;
- a transcript listing all courses, exams and marks, your weighted average and the minimum to maximum range of marks, with exams not yet passed also listed if you are still studying;
- a CV in English, preferably in the Europass format;
- your English proof.
After confirming your place, you pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks. Pre-enrolment is needed for the visa and for UniTrento's admission letter. UniTrento checks foreign degrees only after admission and pre-enrolment, and may ask for a statement of verification or comparability. [1][2]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- University of Trento, Department of Industrial Engineering. Call for applications for admission to the Master's degree programmes of the Department of Industrial Engineering, including Materials Engineering (LM-53), non-European candidates living abroad, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Materials Engineering master's programme page, admission for non-European citizens, academic year 2026/2027. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- University of Trento, Materials Engineering master's programme page (overview, curricula and double degrees). Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Materials Engineering is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale, class LM-53) worth 120 ECTS and taught in English. It is run by the Department of Industrial Engineering in Povo, Trento, and admission for EU students is open, while non-EU applicants living abroad compete for a set number of places.
The degree trains professionals who can design, develop, produce and manage materials, with a solid grounding in processes, properties and applications. It pays attention to innovative product development and to the full life cycle of materials in a circular economy. It suits graduates in industrial engineering or related fields who like the link between chemistry, physics and manufacturing.
What you will study
The first year is the same for everyone and covers the main classes of engineering materials. In the second year you follow one of two curricula, take two electives and complete an 18 ECTS final project. Units in the official study plan include:
- Physics and Thermodynamics of Materials (12 ECTS)
- Polymeric and Composite Materials Engineering (12 ECTS)
- Metallic Materials Engineering and Engineering Properties of Materials
- Ceramic Materials Engineering, and Corrosion and Degradation Control of Materials
- Mechanics and Materials for Engineering Design, in both curricula
- Manufacturing and Product Development: Steelmaking and Foundry Technologies, Product Design, Finite Elements Modeling, Design Methods for Industrial Engineering
- Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development: Materials for Energy, Electrochemistry for Energy and Environment, Recycling and Sustainable Materials, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Smart Materials
How the programme is taught
Students can take part in the EIT Sustainable Materials (EIT SUMA) double degree with European partners, or in bilateral double degrees with the Technical University of Munich, the University of Cincinnati and KU Leuven. Erasmus+ exchanges are also available.
Career paths
Graduates work as product managers, R&D specialists, materials experts and project managers in aerospace, biomedical and medical devices, electronics, automotive, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and construction. The department also points to research centres, design consultancy and public administration roles in environment and safety.
Fees and scholarships
Under UniTrento's 2026/27 call, the first-year fee for non-EU students living abroad follows your admission score: a score of 90 or more brings a full waiver, and lower scores bring reduced fees. [1] In year two, earning at least 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full waiver. Top-ranked applicants scoring at least 70 may receive a UniTrento scholarship that exempts them from tuition, and eligible students can also apply to Opera Universitaria di Trento. The degree can be tuition-free for eligible students. [1]
How to apply from outside the EU
The Department of Industrial Engineering call reserved 25 Materials Engineering places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27. Applications go through the UniTrento online portal; for 2026/27 the deadline was 4 March 2026 at noon CET and results were published by 20 May 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1][2]
Admitted students confirm their place, pre-enrol on Universitaly within two weeks of confirming, and then apply for a study visa. For 2026/27, students delayed by the visa were admitted only if they obtained it by 31 October 2026. [1][2]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against UniTrento's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
Which bachelor's degree do I need for Materials Engineering at UniTrento?
A bachelor's of at least three years in industrial engineering, such as mechanical, mechatronics, chemical or materials engineering, or a related degree with basic maths, physics, chemistry and industrial engineering. Your weighted average must be at least 23/30, read on your own grading scale. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No written test. A committee scores your file out of 100: up to 30 for how well your studies fit the master, 60 for your academic record and 10 for extra language skills. You need 50 to be eligible, and an interview is held only if your documents are not enough. [1]
Do I need IELTS, or is my English-medium degree enough?
You need English at CEFR B2 in all four skills by the application deadline. A bachelor's taught entirely in English, certified by your university, is accepted, as are an international certificate, a certified B2 university exam or citizenship of an English-speaking country. The call lists no minimum scores. [1]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, non-EU applicants living abroad applied by 4 March 2026 at 12:00 CET for 25 reserved places. Rankings came out by 20 May 2026. The 2027/28 call is not yet published and will set the new dates. [1][2]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You upload proof of enrolment showing your expected graduation date and list all your exams, including those not yet passed. For 2026/27, the degree had to be completed by 30 June 2026. [1][2]
I have a B.Tech in Civil Engineering or a B.Sc. in Chemistry. Can I apply?
Possibly. The committee looks for basic knowledge of maths, physics, chemistry and industrial engineering. A civil engineering degree may lack chemistry and materials content, and a chemistry degree may lack engineering courses. We check your transcript course by course before you apply. [1][2]
Can I get a double degree?
Yes, if selected. Options include the EIT Sustainable Materials double degree and bilateral double degrees with the Technical University of Munich, the University of Cincinnati and KU Leuven. [3]
How are tuition fees set for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, fees for non-EU students living abroad followed the admission score, with a full waiver at 90 or more and reduced fees below that. In year two, 42 ECTS by 10 August brings a full waiver. [1]
Can someone handle my whole application to Materials Engineering at UniTrento?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against UniTrento's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Materials Engineering?
A recognised Indian B.Tech or B.E. in mechanical, chemical, materials or another industrial engineering field can meet the degree rule, with a weighted average equal to at least 23/30 on your grading scale. A bachelor's taught entirely in English, certified by your university, can prove B2. The steps are the online application, merit ranking, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][2] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Materials Engineering are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Materials Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Materials Engineering are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: online application, merit ranking, place confirmation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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